A man who has been in Northern Ireland since 2022 and was found asleep in the driver’s seat of a car in Lurgan on a Saturday night, said he was wasn’t aware of the offence of drunk in charge.
Sibin Roy (35), of Avenue Road, Lurgan, pleaded guilty to the charge when he appeared at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
He came to police attention at William Street at 11.50pm on Saturday April 18 this year. He had an alcohol in breath reading of 87 – the legal limit is 35.
A defence solicitor said the defendant “has been in the country since 2022”.
She said he had been in a bar and the incident arose because of “pure stress”.
The car was parked nearby. “He didn’t wish to go home and unfortunately made a stupid decision to get into his car. He wasn’t aware of the laws at that time” but is “fully aware now,” the solicitor said.
District Judge Michael Ranaghan said the court was told the defendant “did not understand the law in Northern Ireland about being in charge of a motor vehicle with excess alcohol. That is no defence”.
The defendant was banned from driving for a month and was fined £200.
